Lay construction for looms



June 13, 1939. c. R. KRONOFF LAY CONSTRUCTION FOR LOOMS Filed Feb. 26, 1958 2 SheetsSheet l Inventor Claw ence RKronoH A Atto rney June 13, 1939. c. R. KR ONOFF LAY CONSTRUCTION FOR LOOMS Filed Feb. 26, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W m T M o \T- g o A? g m 8 E F mm u "I; 1 l ""1 V m om 5 hm J v// c Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED PATENT OFFICE LAY CONSTRUCTION FOR LOOMS Application February 26, 1938, Serial No. 192,815

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements. in the construction of loom lays and it is the general object of the invention to counter-act the tendency of the lay ends or shuttle boxes to bend out of alignment With'the lay when the latter is in one of its extreme positions.

The lay of a loom will ordinarily have a central beam to the ends of which are attached lay ends which support shuttle boxes. The lay is reciprocated by means of connectors which are attached thereto at points located considerable distances from the outer ends of the shuttle boxes. As a result of this construction the weight of the shuttle boxes lies almost entirely at one side of the lay connectors and tend by their momentum to travel through a greater range than that of the connectors, causing the lay to bend when in extreme positions.

It is an important object of my present invention to provide a. counter-balancing weight for the lay end and shuttle box and connect it to these parts by means of a lever or similar force transmitter. In one form of my invention the lever has its outer end bearing against the outer end of the lay while the inner end has the counterweight adjustably mounted thereon. The lever is pivoted between its ends on a stud or the like carried on the lay. As a result of this construction both ends of the lever are acted on by forces tending to move the arms of the lever on each side of the pivot forwardly when the lay approaches its front position. By properly locating the weight the forces can be made to balance each other to nullify any tendency of the box to become r oblique with respect to the axis. of the lay.

The lever will be acted on by relatively large forces and will therefore tend to bend. By having the weight and lever so mounted that the former is free to move slightly the effect of the lever bending can be counter-acted. The extent of motion. of the weight, however, should be limited in order to prevent backward bending-of the shuttle box should the weight become accidental- 1y misplaced, and for this reason it is a further object of my present invention to provide stop means to limit the extent of motion of the weight.

As a further means for varying the counteraction of the weight I provide springs against which the weight moves as the lay leaves or approaches an extreme position. The springs are adjustable as to the resistance which they offer and also reduce any shock which might result from arresting the momentum of the weight.

Since the shuttle box at each end of the lay will have a momentum tending to make it move through a distance greater than that through which the driving connectors move there will be two bending forces to be counter-acted, and in a modified form of my invention I counter-act both of these forces by means of a single weight acting 5 through connections extending to each end of the lay.

In fancy automatic looms in which replenishment is automatic: it is customary to supply one end of the lay with several shuttle boxes which 10 Weight more than the single shuttle box at the weft replenishing end. As a result of this construction the tendency to bend at the shifting shuttle box end is greater than at the other end and it is a further object of my invention to mount the levers so that. the moments which they exert on the ends of the lay can be made proportional to the bending forces acting on the ends. This result may be accomplished by providing one of the levers with means for connecting it pivotally to the lay at a plurality of different points along the length of the lay. I wish it to be understood that the feature of counter-acting unequal bending forces is not necessarily limited to a construction employing one weight.

In bobbin changing looms the reserve bobbin to be placed in the shuttle has its axis parallel to the lay when the latter is unbent. When the shuttle box overrides it is not parallel to the bobbin and defective transfer may result. Furthermore, in such looms the transfer is caused by a dagger on the lay. Bending of the lay as explained changes the relation of the dagger with respect to the transfer mechanism and this fact also interferes with correct transfer. It is an- 35 other object of my invention to prevent lay bending in an automatic loo-m so that the shuttle box and lay dagger may operate correctly in a transferring operation.

With these and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein there are three forms of my invention set forth, 45

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a portion of a loom constructed with a lay made according to the preferred form of my invention and showing bobbin changing mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lay looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is. a front elevation of the loom looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of line 44 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the first modified form of my invention,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section on line 6--6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relation of forces in the preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the first modified form,

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing a second modification which in some respects is similar to the preferred form, and

Fig. 10 is a vertical section on line |El|0, Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown a loom frame In having a top shaft II, a crank l2, connector I3, and lay designated generally at L. The lay is mounted on swords l4 extending down to the lower part of the loom to be supported by the rocker shaft not shown. The weft replenishing mechanism includes a reserve bobbin magazine M, a transferrer arm l5, latch l6 therefor and a dagger I! on the lay. A reserve bobbin B in the magazine is under the transferrer arm awaiting transfer by a force derived from the lay dagger into a shuttle box IS on the outer end of the lay. Transfer occurs as usual with the lay'at front center at a time in the loom cycle when the shuttle box tends to bend forwardly to misalign the box with the bobbin in the maga'zine and also give an overthrow to the dagger. The replenishing mechanism is of the usual well-known type and of itself forms no part of my invention. Weft detector mechanism not shown acts as usual to lift the latch into the path of the dagger to cause transfer. At the opposite end of the loom is a gang of shifting shuttle boxes G on a box lifter rod l9 movable by well-known means not shown to place any one of the shifting boxes in active position.

The shipper handle 20 can be actuated by a horizontal protector lever 2| pivoted to the loom frame in usual manner to be actuated by a protector dagger 22 on a protector rod 23 mounted pivotally on the front of the lay and having an upwardly extending binder finger 24 operating in the usual manner.

The lay comprises a beam 40 which may be of wood or metal and each end of the beam has attached thereto a lay end 4| which carries the box guide plates 30 and also provides connection as at 42 for the connectors l3. The lay end is bolted to the beam 40 as at 43, the inner ends of the lay ends overlapping the lay beam for the purpose of attachment. The lay swords l4 are ordinarily formed as depending parts of the lay end.

The matter thus far described is of common construction and of itself forms no part of my present invention. It is to be understood that certain accessories have been omitted from the drawings such, for instance, as picking mechanism, stop motions etc. At high speeds the lay ends tend to override the throw of the connectors [3. The lay ends are usually metal and tend to swing around their points of attachment to the beam as centers when the lay reaches the extremes of its back and forth motion, thereby interfering with transfer and causing loosening of the connections.

In carrying my present invention into effect I provide means for counter-acting the momentum of the lay ends when they reach front and back center positions. So far as the replenishing features are concerned it Will be sufficient if the momentum is arrested in that part of the lay motion which is toward the replenishing mechanism, but in order to prevent loosening of the lay end I have shown means for checking the momentum in both directions of motion.

In carrying the preferred form of my invention into effect as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 I provide the lower part of the lay end with a depending stud 5|] and mount thereon hub 5| of a lever 52 having an inner arm 53 and an outer arm 54. The inner arm 53 extends into a guide 55 secured to the under side of the lay beam and having a slot 56 through which the end of arm 53 extends. The guide has threaded into opposite sides thereof bolts 5'l which adjust compression springs 58 lying between the bolts and the arm 53. The springs are for the purpose of absorbing shock and offering a variable resistance to motion of the arm 53, as will appear hereinafter. A counter-weight 6B is mounted on the arm 53 for movement therealong and is held in adjusted position by a set screw 6| bearing against the arm 53.

The outer end of arm 54 is forked as at 65 to receive a stud 66 depending from and secured to the outer part of the lay end 4|. It is to be understood that each end of the lay is provided with one of the levers and its counter-weight, but if it is desired to prevent bending solely for benefit of the replenishing mechanism there will be but one lever located on the replenishing end of the lay.

In the first modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 10 I secure a stud 10 to the underside of the lay to project through one of a series of pivot bearings H formed in the lever 12. The outer arm 13 of lever 12 is forked as at 14 to receive a depending stud supported by the lay end 16. In this form of the invention there is but a single weight 80 shown in detail in Fig. 6 where it will be seen that I provide a U-shaped guide 8| secured to the under side of the lay and having a horizontal support 82 on which the weight 80 is free to slide against the action of compression springs 83. Stop screws 84 limit the motion of the weight, and the latter has extended therethrough a horizontal slot 85 into which the rounded end 86 of the inner arm 81 of lever 12 projects. Each side of the weight has one of these slots 85 as shown in Fig. 5.

In order that the pivotal center of the lever 12 may be varied I provide an adjustable plate 90 secured to the lower surface of each lay end, the previously described pivot pin 10 being threaded into one or another of a series of tapped holes 9| in plate 90. By this construction it is possible to locate the stud 10 at a plurality of different points along the length of the lay so that the pivot of lever 12 will occupy a variety of positions which divide the lever into arms of varying lengths.

In the second modification indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 9 the parts are similar to those shown in the preferred form except for the inwardly extending arms 95 of the lever 96 which may be pivoted on the studs 50 and in other respects be formed as are the levers 52. The arms 95 extend parallel to and are spaced from each other transversely of the lay and each arm 95 is provided with a counter-weight 91 held in adjusted longitudinal position by a set screw 98.

In operation, the lay will be moved back and forth by the connectors as usual, attaining its greatest speed whenhalf way between extreme front and back positions. The lay ends will tend, after attaining their maximum speed, to travel backwardly and forwardly at a greater rate than that of the connector, thereby tending to bend relativeiy to the lay beam. Without my present invention this tendency shows itself easily measurable amounts which depend to some extent upon the speed of the loom. By reason of my invention, however, the counter-weights tend also to move with respect to the lay in the same direction as do the lay ends and these effects neutralize each other with the net result that the lay ends remain substantially in alignment with the lay.

The preferred form of the invention operates as shown diagrammatically in Fig... 7, where the arrows a indicate the decelerating force derived from the connector as the lay approaches front center and applied to the lay as indicated at i011, Fig. l. The point W9 is close to the pivot 50 measured in the directicn of the length of the lay and the ends of the lever 52 both tend to move forwardly under influence of the forces 0 and b. The force indicated by arrow b is derived from the momentum of the lay end, while the other force indicated by arrow 6 is derived from the momentum of the weight. Both forces b and c are exerted in the same direction and are designed to counter-balance each other. Because of the masses involved there will be some fiex-ure of the lever and I compensate for this by locating the Weight so that the effect which it exerts will take account of the bending of the lever.

In the form shown in Fig. 8 a single weight serves to actuate both of the levers associated therewith, the force d corresponding to force a in the preferred form being applied at a variety of points to afford an adjustment for the length of the arms of the lever. This adjustment is desirable because of the fact that the weight in this form is not adjustable along the lay.

In the second modification shown in Fig. 9 the forces are very similar to those existing in the preferred form except that the effect of the weight is increased by reason of the fact that the arms are longer than corresponding arms shown in Fig. l, and as a result the weight may be made smaller.

With vertically shifting boxes the center of gravity of the several cells changes with each shifting of the box, the gang of boxes moving at a faster rate when in highest position to render the lowest cell active and being minimum when'the boxes are down to render the top cell active. I prefer to adjust the forces exerted by the weight so that they will neutralize the boxes when the latter are in an intermediate position such for instance as with the next to the top box active. This has particular reference to the left end of the loom as shown in Fig. 3 but I do not wish to be held to the particular relationship specified. If the greater part of the weaving is to be done by one shuttle the weight can be adjusted to compensate for the locations of the gang of boxes when that particular shuttle is active.

At the time of transfer the dagger I"! will engage latch Hi to depress the transferrer arm and insert the reserve bobbin into the shuttle S. The weighted mechanism acts as already described to hold the lay parallel and therefore give the dagger its proper travel and at the same time keep the shuttle box it aligned with the incoming reserve bobbin.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I counter-act the tendency of a lay end to bend with respect to the lay by weighted means which exert their forces by reason of momentum derived from the lay. It will further be seen that the forces of momentum can be changed either by altering the location of the weights or by varying the lengths of the lever arms which connect the weights to the lay end. It will also be seen that the weights can be located so that the effect which they exert on the lay end not only overcomes the momentum of the latter but also compensates for the bending of the lever, Since the Weights carried by the lay a variation of loom speed requires both the weights and the lay ends to move at substantially the same rates and a setting of the weight for a particular speed will suffice for a speed variation extending over a number of picks. It will also be seen that the uneven tendencies of the lay end to bend due to the different positions of the shifting shuttle boxes is largely compensated for by locating the weight so that it will neutralize bending tendenc es when the boxes are in intermediate position on the non-automatic side of the loom and prevent substantial bending at the weft replenishing side of the loom when the boxes are in replenishing position. Furthermore, the dagger of the replenishing mechanism has a proper motion for transferring and the shuttle box I8 is held in correct alignment to receive the incoming bobbin.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed. but what I claim is:

1. In a loom, a lay having a shuttle box, a shuttle box supporting lay end secured to one end of the lay, driving means for the lay connected to the latter between the center of the lay end and the center of the lay, a lever pivoted intermediate the ends thereof to the lay and having one end engaging the lay end, and a counter-weight mounted on the other end of the lever to resist motion of the lay end relatively to the lay when the latter is moved to one extreme of its motion by said driving means.

2. In a loom, a lay including a beam, a lay end extending from the lay beam, driving means for the lay connected to the latter at a point between the center of the lay end and the center of the lay beam, a lever having one end engaging the lay end and having the other end extending inwardly along the lay beam, a pivotal connection between the lay and the lever located intermediate the ends of the latter, and a counterweight on the end of the lever extending along the lay beam.

3. In a loom, a lay extending across the loom and having a shuttle box, a shuttle box supporting lay end on one end of the lay, driving means for the lay connected to the latter at a point between the center of the layer end and the center of the lay and reciprocating the lay, a lever having an outer arm engaging the lay end adjacent to the end thereof and having another arm extending inwardly along the lay, a pivotal connection for the lever carried bytthe lay and lbc'ated between the arms of the lever, and a counter-weight mounted on said other arm to be moved by and derive momentum from said driving connection, said counter-weight acting through the lever to resist bending of the outer endof-the lay end with respect to the intermediate portion thereof as the lay nears the end of a motion thereof.

4. In a loom, a lay, a driving connector to reciprocate the lay attached to the latter at a point removed from the end of the lay, a lever pivoted to the lay and extending on both sides of said point, the end of the lever on one side of said point engaging the lay, and a counter-weight mounted on the end of the lever on the other side of said point, said connector developing a momentum in said weight as the lay moves and the momentum of said weight acting through the first named end of the lever to resist bending of the outer end of the lay relatively to the remainder of the lay as the latter nears the completion of a motion thereof.

5. In a loom having a reciprocating lay extending thereacross, driving means to reciprocate the lay connected to the latter at a point intermediate the ends thereof, the outer end of the lay projecting beyond the point and tending by momentum thereof to travel through a greater distance than that through which the driving means travels, a counter-weight moving with the lay and deriving motion therefrom and located on the side of said point opposite the adjacent end of the lay, and connections between the counter-weight and said outer end of the lay to cause the momentum of the counter-weight to resist the momentum of said outer end of the lay when the latter nears the end of a continuous motion thereof.

6. In a loom, a lay, a driving connector for the lay attached to the latter at a point removed from the adjacent end of the lay, said adjacent end of the lay by reason of the momentum thereof tending to move through a distance greater than the distance through which the driving connector moves, a lever extending along the lay and having the outer end thereof in engagement with the outer end of the lay, a pivotal support for the lever carried by the lay and located intermediate the ends of said lever, and a counterweight mounted on that end of the lever opposite the end of the lay, the end of the lay and the counter-weight lying on opposite sides of said pivotal connection, said weight being moved by and deriving momentum from the driving connection and tending by the momentum thereof applied through the lever to prevent the end of the lay from moving through a distance greater than the distance through which the driving connector moves.

'7. In a loom, a lay having a shuttle box, a shuttle box supporting lay end secured to one end of the lay, driving means for the lay connected to the latter between the center of the lay end and the center of the lay, a lever pivoted intermediate the ends thereof to the lay and having one end engaging the lay end, a counterweight mounted on the other end of the lever to resist motion of the lay end relatively to the lay when the latter is moved to one extreme of its motion by said driving means, and a stop to limit motion of the lever relatively to the lay.

8. In a loom, a lay having a shuttle box, a shuttle box supporting lay end secured to one end of the lay, driving means for the lay connected to the latter between the center of the lay end and the center of the lay, a lever pivoted intermediate the ends thereof to the lay and having one end I engaging the lay end, and a counter-weight mounted on the other end of the lever to resist motion of the lay end relatively to the lay when the latter is moved to one extreme of its motion by said driving means, and resilient means between the lever and lay to resist motion of the lever relatively to the lay.

9. In a loom, a lay extending thereacross, driving connections for the lay including a pair of members each connected to the lay at a point removed from the adjacent end of the lay, said members reciprocating the lay and the ends of the lay lying outside said members tending by their momentum to move through the greater distance than that through which said members move, a pair of levers, one for each end of the lay, each lever having the outer end thereof engaging the adjacent end of the lay, a pivotal connection for each lever intermediate the ends of the latter, each lever having an arm extending from the pivotal connection thereof toward a similar arm of the other lever, and a counterweight common to the last named arms of the lever and acting on both levers by the momentum thereof derived from said members to resist the tendency of the ends of the lay to move through a distance greater than that through which the members move by forces transmitted through said members.

10. In a loom, a lay extending thereacross, a pair of connectors reciprocating to move the lay back and forth and attached to the lay at points removed from the ends thereof, the ends of the lay tending by their momentum to move through a distance greater than that through which the connectors move, a lever for each end of the lay, each lever having an outwardly extending arm engaging the adjacent end of the lay, a pivotal connection between one of the levers and the lay located intermediate the ends of said one lever, means to define a pivotal connection between the other lever and the lay located intermediate the ends of said other lever and located at any one of a plurality of points along the length of the lay, and a counter-weight common to said levers, the counter-weight engaging that end extending inwardly from the pivotal connection of the corresponding lever toward the longitudinal center of the lay, the weight by the momentum thereof derived from the connectors tending to prevent the ends of the lay from moving through a distance greater than that through which the connectors move.

11. In a loom, a lay having a shuttle box, a shuttle box supporting lay end secured to one end of the lay, driving means for the lay connected to the latter between the center of the lay end and the center of the lay, a counter-weight, and means to mount the counter-weight on the lay for movement relatively to the latter, said mounting means connected to the outer end of the lay end and transmitting a force from the counterweight due to the momentum thereof derived from motion of the lay to the outer end of the lay end to prevent substantial bending thereof with respect to the lay.

12. In a loom, a lay beam, a lay end secured to and projecting beyond the end of the lay beam, the outer end of the lay end due to momentum thereof during motion of the lay tending to move through a greater distance than that through which the beam moves, a counter-weight moving with the lay, means to mount the counter-weight for movement relatively to the lay, and means to communicate a force from the counter-weight due to momentum of the latter derived from motion of the lay beam to the outer end of the lay end to prevent the outer end of said lay end from moving through a greater distance than that through which the beam moves.

13. In a loom, a lay extending thereacross, means to reciprocate the lay, the outer end of the lay by reason of the momentum thereof tending to move through a distance greater than that moved through by parts of the lay between the ends of the lay, a counter-weight, means to mount the counter-weight on the lay for movement relatively thereto, and means to transmit a force from the counter-weight derived from the momentum thereof due to motion of the lay to the outer end of the lay and prevent said outer end of the lay from moving through a distance greater than that through which the intermediate parts of the lay move.

14. In a loom, a lay having a shuttle box at one end thereof, driving means for the lay connected to the latter at a point between the ends thereof, the shuttle box because of the momentum thereof tending to move through a greater distance than that through which the driving means moves, a reserve weft magazine over the shuttle box having a reserve supply of Weft the axis of which is substantially parallel to the lay,

a counter-weight supported by the lay and movable relatively thereto, and force transmitting means connecting the counter-weight to the outer end of the lay and transmitting a force derived from the counter-weight due to the momentum thereof derived from the lay to the outer end of the latter to prevent the end of the lay from moving through a greater distance than that through which the driving means moves and thereby maintain the shuttle box parallel to the lay and the axis of the reserve weft supply.

15. In a loom, a lay having a shuttle box at one end thereof, reciprocating driving connections for the lay connected. to the latter between the ends thereof, the shuttle box because of the momentum thereof tending to move through a greater distance than that through which the driving means moves, a reserve bobbin magazine over the shuttle box having a reserve bobbin the axis of which is substantially parallel to the lay, transfer mechanism to engage the reserve bobbin and move the same into the shuttle box, a dagger on the lay to transmit a force from the lay to the transfer mechanism, a counter-Weight mounted for movement relatively to the lay and moving with the latter, and force transmitting connections between the counter-weight and the outer end of the lay to transmit a force derived from the momentum of the counter-weight due to motion of the lay to the outer end of the lay and prevent the latter from moving through a greater distance than that through which the driving means moves to maintain the shuttle box substantially parallel to the axis of the lay and the reserve bobbin in the magazine.

CLARENCE R. KRONOFF. 

